California Governor Gavin Newsom has blocked an incoming and proposed bill that was solely focused on limiting the use of AI chatbots among the child population, saying that the law needed more clarity and balance before it is approved.
The California AI chatbot bill, which was deployed to protect minors from all the potential risks of artificial intelligence tools, has now been sent backso that it goes through a thorough revision.
The kids’ AI restriction law was designed to prevent children from accessing AI-powered chatbots without proper safety measures. Several Lawmakers behind this proposal have also argued that unregulated chatbot use by children could expose the minors to inappropriate or even misleading information, thus raising serious concerns about the children’s online safety.
The bill would also include provisions that would lead companies to first verify the users’ ages and ensure that AI systems interacting with children also follow strict content and data privacy rules.
Governor Newsom, in his governor and AI bill, has also said that while the intent to protect children was commendable, the bill lacked clear and concise definitions, and that could lead to unintentionally limiting innovation.
He emphasised the fact that California must also try to strike a balance between AI safety legislation and supporting the state’s thriving tech ecosystem.
“Protecting young users is important, but we must ensure that any AI regulation is both effective and practical,” Newsom said. He has also added that the state would work with various lawmakers and even experts to refine as well as redefine the future legislation, thus addressing AI and even youth safety.
Despite the veto, experts still say that AI regulation in California remains a top priority. The state has been one of the first in the U.S. to explore comprehensive AI-related policies, that too, especially in areas like those involving data privacy, bias control, and ethical use.
Lawmakers who have recently sponsored the bill also said that they plan to reintroduce a revised version in the next legislative session, which would basically be the one that would maintain strong protection for minors but aligns better with existing tech laws.
